Introduction to Backpacking

To some people, hiking is a way to escape to nature for a few hours, or maybe the day. For some people though, hiking is a lifestyle, a home away from home. If spending days or weeks with an extra twenty, thirty, even sixty pounds on your back is your idea of a good time, then you are a backpacker. And this site is for you.

Backpacking generally refers to hiking while carrying the gear you need to spend one to many nights in the wilderness. Some backpackers are content to wander off with the clothes on their back and little more - the John Muirs and Bear Grylls of the world. Most of us carry a backpack and the proper gear for the season and location we are exploring. And a few us carry everything, even the kitchen sink, on our backs. Its up to you to find a style you like. It can take years to find the perfect combination of gear for you.

This site isn't going to tell you exactly what you should and shouldn't take backpacking. Its just a collection of tools to help. These tools can help you organize your gear. They can also calculate the weight of your gear, helping you trim down your pack. Less weight on your back means you can save time and energy.

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